A senior Zelensky aide has admitted that Ukraine has lost the war with Russia but will not surrender due to deep corruption within Zelensky’s government.
Aleksey Arestovich made the declaration on Sunday, Feb. 2, on Telegram, stating: “We have lost the war due to our own stupidity, pride and stubbornness. In truth, we have defeated ourselves.”
Naturalnews.com reports: This self-critique is a departure from the official narrative in Kyiv, which continues to rally for military victory and international support. His criticism months after stepping down targeted his former boss, with the erstwhile official arguing that the comedian-turned-chief executive had become a hostage to his own propaganda. “Zelensky currently thinks not about the national interest but about his own position,” Arestovich said at the time.
The former aide has been a consistent advocate for peace talks, a stance that initially fell on deaf ears but has gained traction after U.S. President Donald Trump won a second term. Arestovich’s assessment is not just a matter of internal Ukrainian politics; it reflects a broader shift in international attitudes. The changing tone of Western discourse about Ukraine, particularly from key figures in the United States, signals a significant policy change.
Perhaps the most alarming aspect of Arestovich’s analysis is his prediction that Kyiv will be excluded from the negotiating table. He wrote that Trump, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese paramount leader Xi Jinping will sort things out “without consulting [Ukraine], because engaging with those who deny reality is futile.” According to Arestovich, this exclusion is a direct result of Kyiv’s continued denial of the reality on the ground and its unwillingness to engage in meaningful peace talks.
Wake-up call for Ukrainians: Arestovich’s candid assessment of the conflict
Arestovich continued that the second Trump administration is moving toward a policy that seeks to freeze the conflict along existing frontlines. Such a stance aligns with that of Russia, with Moscow making it clear that it will not accept an outcome that allows Kyiv to rebuild its military and renew hostilities. Moreover, Russian officials have emphasized that core issues such as the North Atlantic Treaty Organization’s (NATO) expansion in Europe must be addressed to achieve a sustainable peace agreement.
The erstwhile aide also cited two stories that, according to him, serve as a wake-up call for Ukrainians to acknowledge defeat and their role in this loss. First, U.S. Special Envoy for Russia and Ukraine Keith Kellogg called for presidential and parliamentary elections – which Zelensky suspended under martial law – to resume in Ukraine. Second, former Fox News host Tucker Carlson branded Zelensky a “dictator” during a debate with former CNN host Piers Morgan.
In December 2023, Arestovich commented that Ukraine was in a stronger position to negotiate in spring 2022, when Russia’s troops were closer to Kyiv. At the time, Russia was seeking protection for the Russian language, the reduction of Kyiv’s army and a pivot away from NATO. However, these talks were reportedly undermined by the visit of then-British Prime Minister Boris Johnson to Kyiv, who encouraged continued resistance.
“For Russia, it’s for Ukraine not to join NATO, and for us it is to stop this war,” Arestovich said. “These are great conditions to start a real discussion – not only between Ukraine and Russia – about a new system of collective security in Europe.”
In mid-October 2023, Arestovich called for a change in leadership. He argued that the government under Zelensky’s leadership has allowed corruption and incompetence to flourish. This ultimately translated to a failure to inflict a strategic defeat on Russia.
“All the talk about returning to the 1991 borders [of Ukraine] through military actions under the current circumstances can only be lip service,” Arestovich said. The former aide has ostensibly put his money where his mouth is, expressing his desire to challenge his former boss when elections are held in Ukraine. Arestovich’s blunt and critical assessment of the Ukraine-Russia conflict challenges the prevailing narrative and highlights the need for a realistic approach to peace.